The beat sticks in my head. Even in my dreams I sometimes feel
the music. Now and then I imagine the sound and my fingers begin
dancing by themselves.

You can hear the same beat in summer. Now you know what I am
talking about. It's the summer festival. When I was small, my
parents took me to summer festivals. We enjoyed them and I loved the
music very much. My child's mind was moved by the music. I could
not wait to be 10 years old, because then I could join the Ohayashi
band.

Finally I joined. At first it was very hard to play the drums
because there was no sheet music. We just played from our hearts.
That is the way of festival music. It gets passed down from person
to person over many years. We learn the melody by listening to older
members.

Now we have many chances to play in front of others. Many
people like our music and clap for us. We get energy from them.
Sometimes people throw money too.

When I play, I often look out at the people. I see the eyes of
little children. They are like me when I was small. The music
moves them too and fills them with wonder. I know our Japanese
festival music will live on.topΦ

QNΆ@FκSsXs[`ReXg@ΕDGά

The Tip of the Iceberg

Moka Higashi Jr. High
School

Grade 2

Sayaka Kuroko

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Have you ever seen an iceberg? Well, if you watched the movie
Titanic, you can say yes. Or can you? In the movie we saw only a
part of the iceberg. There was much more of it under the surface.
People are often the same. There is more under the surface. What
we find there might surprise us.

I have never visited the U.S.A. but about 4 months ago, I
thought I could describe an American very well. But in July, my
school had 50 guests from California and my ideas changed. One guest
stayed in my home. Her name was Theresa. She is a Chinese American.
One day she lost her credit card. First of all, can you imagine a
junior high school student with a credit card? But that was only the
first surprise. When she called her father, she spoke both English
and Chinese. That surprised me too. I expected her to speak
English. Yes, I know her parents are Chinese, but she lives in
America.

I noticed something about the other Americans in the group too.
For example, if an American is very outgoing, does it mean all
Americans are outgoing? No, because I met some shy Americans. Or,
if a few are tall, does it mean all Americans are tall? I met some
short Americans too. None of them are the same, they are all
different.

What's on the surface doesn't show the whole picture. Usually,
what we've seen in the movies or heard from others is only the tip of
the iceberg. We can never know the true picture unless we look
deeper. topΦ

RNΆ@FκSsXs[`ReXg@ΕDGά

My Family's Help

Moka Higashi Junior
High School

Grade 3

Azumi Kuramochi

Who will make your dreams come true? I have a dream to become
an actress. Becoming an actress is hard work and few people make it.
Some make it because they are very talented. I am not so I must try
harder than the rest. But if I reach my dream, it's because my
family helps me.

My older sister finished high school this year. Now she has a
new job. She said, "From now on, I can enjoy shopping because I have
my own money. Before when I wanted to buy something, you came to
mind. Even if the item was only 4 or 5 thousand yen, I didn't want
Mom and Dad to spend the money. We need the money for your lessons."

I was surprised. Until then, I never thought about the cost of
my drama lessons. I just enjoyed going. But my sister's desires
were sacrificed for my dream. No, not only my sister's. All of my
family paid for my dream. How selfish I have been!

This summer my father asked all the family to help me again. I
had auditioned for a part in a musical. I am on the list for the
final selection. With summer drama lessons, I might be selected for
the part. But I had also invited my American friend for the summer.
Her school was coming to my town and I invited her to stay at my
house. At first my father asked, "How can you do both? You will be
too busy and sometimes your friend will be alone. When she returns
to America, will she be able to say, I had a great time in Japan?"
When I told my drama coach about my plans, he said, This is your big
chance. You don't have time for other things. I didn't know what to
do. Then one day, my mother told me about my father's decision. He
said, "We will be good hosts when Azumi can't."

I am thankful for my family and I wish I could pay them back
for all they have done. I can't pay them back now, but someday I
hope to be a good actress. Then I can make my family proud and
bring joy to many people. Yes, one day I may be in the spotlight,
but all the applause belongs to my family. topΦ